Controversy surrounds tender process of Works Dept. Engineer-in-Chief (Civil)under scanner

Most of the A-class and super class contractors in Odisha have refrained from participating in approximately 100 e-tenders in Jajpur district, putting a question mark on the functioning of PWD Engineer in Chief Manoranjan Mishra. The lack of interest from local contractors in nearly 100 tenders in Jajpur has raised eyebrows.

Mishra, who oversees the responsibilities of the Chief Engineers for roads, has allegedly centralised a staggering 900 above tenders, amounting to over Rs.100,050 crore for various projects. Shockingly, only 788 contractors or agencies chose to participate in the tenders.

The efficiency of A-class and super-class contractors in Odisha is well-known. However, they failed to engage in such a significant number of tenders simultaneously. This raises concerns regarding the decision to call an excessive number of tenders at once by the Chief Engineer of Roads.

Moreover, the violation of norms is apparent, as it is mandatory for the department to retain a minimum of 15 percent of the tender cost. Despite this requirement, PWD Engineer-in-Chief Mishra called the tenders, disregarding established protocols and standard operating procedures (OPWD Code). The integrity of the tender process, the accuracy of Detailed Project Reports (DPR), survey reports, and administrative approvals are all now under scanner.

The allegations of irregularities in this extensive e-tender process are leading to growing calls for a thorough investigation into the matter. Concerns regarding transparency, adherence to norms, and proper administrative oversight will be critical focal points in the ongoing probe.